Shock absorber for doors



May 19, 1936. F. E. GIGNOUX I SHOCK ABSORBERFOR DOORS Filed April 18, 1934 INVENTO R. Tie d E. Giynouw.

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Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 snoox ABSORBER FOR noons Fred E. Gignoux, Cape Elizabeth, Maine Application April 18, 1934, Serial No. 721,182 7 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a device particularly adapted for use on door jambs for absorbing the jar or shock of a door as it closes.

Not only is the device eflicacious in easing the impact but is very effective in eliminating or at least greatly reducing the noise incident to the banging of the door on its jamb when no provision is made for cushioning the blow.

Noise, directly or indirectly is a productive source of many human ills. The highest medical authorities in dealing with neuropathic diseases insist on quiet surroundings for their patients. Industrial investigators have proven that a greater amount of work, with increased efficiency, can be accomplished by a person when laboring under subdued-sound conditions, than when in an atmosphere of noise and distraction whether occurring intermittently or continuously.

Inventors have in some cases taken note of the aforesaid facts and recognizing the deleterious effect on ones nervous system by the slamming of a door have devised various devices and methods, some quite expensive, of reducing to a minimum this very disagreeable and nerve-racking sound.

In the present invention I have sought to provide a simple, low cost article calculated to accomplish the objects set forth, one which may easily be mounted on the door frame finish by any mechanically inexperienced person, and adjusted to any desired position thereon.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustratively disclosed an embodiment of my invention which, at the present time, I consider preferable to other possible forms in which the invention might be carried out.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 shows a door ajar in its frame, with three shock absorber devices mounted on the door frame, adjacent the door jamb;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of a door and frame, the door abutting on the buffers of the shock absorber;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the device;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4, 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55, Fig. 3;

Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing, respectively, the inner and outer faces of the holder, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the buffer.

Similar reference characters indicate like parts in all views of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, D is a door, F the door frame finish, and J the door jamb.

In practice, I mount on the frame finish of (Cl. 16'86) H the door one or more of my devices, each'thereof comprisinga holder lxan'd a buffer member, preferably rubber,'2. T I

The holder has a raised portion 3 within which is an open-end, buffer-receiving well 30.. The three side walls of, this well converge toward the flat, outer wall 3b. The two ends la of the holder are extended and in each extension is a transverse slot 4.

The buffer element 2 has fiat and parallel faces 2a and 2b and three of its edges, 20, 2c, and 2d are inclined at the same angle as are the sides and rear faces of the well 30.. The door-contacting edge of the buffer is square with the faces 2a and 21), so that when engaging the closed door this edge, 2e bears fair over its entire surface.

It will be noted by observation of Fig. 4 that the surface 2a of the buffer, before being compressed by the holder, falls short of reaching the inner face 30 of the raised portion 3, and that its opposite face 2b extends below or outside of the base line lb of the holder I.

Thus when a pressure is applied to the holder by the screws 5 which secure the holder tothe door frame finish, the tapering walls of the well 3a act to compress the rubber buffer laterally as well as applying a pressure directed normal thereto, resulting in acquiring a firmer grip on the rubber than would be the case was the pressure applied in one direction only, or toward the door frame.

Furthermore, when installing one of the shock absorbers on a door frame finish, the rearwardly disposed wall 3d gradually increases the pressure applied to the edge 2d as the holder is screwed down into place, this edge constituting a positive bulkwark to, prevent inward movement of the buffer into the space 3a and consequent relaxing of the pressure against the door, once the device is in place.

When re-positioning of the shock absorbers becomes necessary, due to deformation or wear of the square end of the rubber buifers, or to subsequent warping and twisting of the door, the screws 5 are slightly relaxed and. the device, as a unit, moved bodily toward the door, the slotted holes 4 making this possible. This procedure is in contrast to the method sometimes employed in devices of this nature in which the rubber is withdrawn from the holding member and the correct adjustment made by inserting shims at the rear end of the buffer.

My shock absorber for doors is very simple in structure, convenient to install, and low in its original cost. It will effectively overcome the disagreeable noise, incident to the closing of doors on their bare jambs, and for this reason will appeal to those who desire quiet surroundings,

either in the home or oflice, with respect to which the'elimination of slamming doors largely enhances the possibility of its attainment.

What I claim is: a

- 1. A device of the class described comprising 'a holding member having therein an open end well withthree inwardly converging sides, a rubber buil'er adapted tcbe inserted in said well with a portion thereof protruding through the open end of the well, the width of said buiier being slightly in excess of the width of the well, whereby the bufier is laterally compressed before itsinner face seats on the bottomVQf-the well, and an extended portion on each end of said holding member having a transverse'slot therein. 7:

2. A shock absorber for doors adapted to positioned and secured by screws to the door irame'finish adjacent the door'jamb, comprising aholder, aportion on said holder extending outwardly from the base line thereof, aidepression 2,040,986 1'. j "if;

in said extending portion having three inclined walls converging outwardly, a rubber bufier disposed in said depression, three of its edges being inclined to conform to and fit the respective inclined walls of the depression, and the fourth v a slotted aperture therein, and a screw operating 'in each of said apertures, adapted to draw said holder on to: said bufferso that it is compressed bothlaterall'y and in a direction normal to said base'line -the rearward edge of said buifer being always in contact with the corresponding wall of the depression to provide a positive abutment limiting the inward'movement of the bufferiin said holder;

FRED E. GIGN'OUX'. 

